προαίρ-εσις, εως, ἡ,
choosing one thing before another, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Plato Philosophus “Parmenides” 143c ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; purpose, resolution, π. καὶ πρᾶξις [[ [prev. author] “Def.” 413a, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Ethica Nicomachea” 1094a2 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; opposed to ἀνάγκη, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 1.10; ἐκ π. καὶ βουλήσεως 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 44.57, compare 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “de Partibus Animalium” 657b1; ἡ κατὰ π. κίνησις [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 1015a33 ] Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ κατὰ π. ἀδικήματα wrongs done from malice prepense, [[ 4th c.BC: Lycurgus Orator 148 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; ζῆν κατὰ π., as a test of freedom. [[ 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Politica” 1280a34 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; παρὰ τὴν π. contrary to one's purpose, [[ [prev. author] “Metaphorical” 1015a27 ] Refs]; as characteristic of moral action, ἡ π. βουλευτικὴ ὄρεξις τῶν ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν [[ [prev. author] “EN” 1113a10, compare 1139a23 ] Refs]; inclination, χρῶ ὡς βούλει τῇ σεαυτοῦ π. [[ 4th-3rd c.BC: Epicurus Philosophus “Sent.V at.” 51;] Refs 4th c.BC+] motive, κατὰ προαίρεσιν δακρύειν [[ 5th c.BC: Hippocrates Medicus “ἀφορισμοί” 4.52. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]
__2 purpose, plan, or scope of action, τῇ π. τοῦ βίου [[ 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 23.141, 48.56; οὐδενὸς εὐδοκιμεῖ πράγματος ἡ π. [prev. author] “Prooem.” 50; ἐπὶ τῇ τοῦ πλεονεκτεῖν π. ζῆν [prev. author] 23.127 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἀναίδεια καὶ π. πονηρίας deliberate wickedness, [[ [prev. author] “Ep.” 3.18; τῶν καλῶν ἔργων 7th c.BC: Zaleucus cited in 5th c.AD: Stobaeus, Joannes 4.2.19] Refs 7th c.BC+]: absolutely, course of life, principle of action, ἐν π. χρηστῇ καὶ βίῳ σώφρονι ζῆν [[ 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator “Ep.” [same place]; διὰ τὰς τέτταρας δραχμὰς ἀποβάλω τὴν π.; 3rd c.BC(?): Strato Comicus 1.33 ] Refs 4th c.BC+]: plural, principles, [[ 5th-6th c.BC: Isocrates Orator 1.9; αἱ κοιναὶ π. 4th c.BC: Demosthenes Orator 18.210, etc. ] Refs 5th c.BC+]